So I'm starting a new syndicate this year, this will be my first "proper" water and it's going to be a serious campaign for me. I've recently done a lot of very long range fishing with singles (160-190yds) on a large pit for a number of years, so I haven't really been baiting much, just finding them and chucking singles at them - which has worked very well for me. As a result I'm a bit "lost" in the current world of bait, but I do know a little bit about bait formulation and attraction, I'm just a bit lost with the choice!
This new water is a bit different to what I'm used to, I can get very close to them, lots of margin/snag fishing and I can use a boat so I can get bait right onto the spots, lots of big fish in very clear water, lots of naturals and lots of weed.
My approach will predominantly be boilie and particle based.
In terms of baits I've shortlisted, I've come up with the following list;
1: Essential baits Shellfish B5 + Black Snail combo (50/50 of each)
2: DNA Bug
3: Rollin Optimum
4: CCMoore Pacific Tuna or maybe odyssey
The reason I put essential first, is that I've read Mike Willmott's Carp Life books, and I really think he knows what he's talking about, Shellfish B5 also has a very old school smell to it, which reminds me of when I used to mess about as a kid making my own fruit fishmeal baits, which I did really well on in the 90s.
DNA - I know a lad on the water who already uses it and has done pretty well,
Rollin Optimum - I like the idea behind the best possible ingredients being used and money being no object, I like the idea of using the highest possible qualiity bait you can buy and the fact that they're super soluble, so I like the idea that the bait will keep putting out high quality food signals as it breaks down.
Pacific Tuna - comes across as a very high quality fishmeal, it's obviously a good proven bait.
I guess I'm just confused as hell and kinda need a nudge in the right direction :D
This new water is a bit different to what I'm used to, I can get very close to them, lots of margin/snag fishing and I can use a boat so I can get bait right onto the spots, lots of big fish in very clear water, lots of naturals and lots of weed.
My approach will predominantly be boilie and particle based.
In terms of baits I've shortlisted, I've come up with the following list;
1: Essential baits Shellfish B5 + Black Snail combo (50/50 of each)
2: DNA Bug
3: Rollin Optimum
4: CCMoore Pacific Tuna or maybe odyssey
The reason I put essential first, is that I've read Mike Willmott's Carp Life books, and I really think he knows what he's talking about, Shellfish B5 also has a very old school smell to it, which reminds me of when I used to mess about as a kid making my own fruit fishmeal baits, which I did really well on in the 90s.
DNA - I know a lad on the water who already uses it and has done pretty well,
Rollin Optimum - I like the idea behind the best possible ingredients being used and money being no object, I like the idea of using the highest possible qualiity bait you can buy and the fact that they're super soluble, so I like the idea that the bait will keep putting out high quality food signals as it breaks down.
Pacific Tuna - comes across as a very high quality fishmeal, it's obviously a good proven bait.
I guess I'm just confused as hell and kinda need a nudge in the right direction :D
In reply to Post #1
B5 has been around what feels like forever, its caught thousands of carp, so you wont go far wrong.
If not, just buy a load of cell, it has, and will continue to catch sh!t loads
B5 has been around what feels like forever, its caught thousands of carp, so you wont go far wrong.
If not, just buy a load of cell, it has, and will continue to catch sh!t loads
In reply to Post #1
my opinion counts for little, but if i had too from your list
B5
my opinion counts for little, but if i had too from your list
B5
In reply to Post #1
Going from what you have described with lots of margin and snag fishing I would suspect it's going to be one bite tactics. Finding fish and presenting a bait with minimal disturbance within the area with enough bait for a single bite. Out of the baits listed I have only ever used the optimum and wish I had of stumbled across it 10 years ago. One bite tactics would be more friendly on the wallet if using the optimum and it certainly makes sense to use a higher quality of bait if you don't need to use loads. It's super soluble and leaks it's attractors readily even in the depths of winter it will be working for you. You could buy a few kg of two of the baits mentioned and with the fishing being very visual the carp themselves should help you choose.
Going from what you have described with lots of margin and snag fishing I would suspect it's going to be one bite tactics. Finding fish and presenting a bait with minimal disturbance within the area with enough bait for a single bite. Out of the baits listed I have only ever used the optimum and wish I had of stumbled across it 10 years ago. One bite tactics would be more friendly on the wallet if using the optimum and it certainly makes sense to use a higher quality of bait if you don't need to use loads. It's super soluble and leaks it's attractors readily even in the depths of winter it will be working for you. You could buy a few kg of two of the baits mentioned and with the fishing being very visual the carp themselves should help you choose.
In reply to Post #1
No reason why your singles approach won't work on a new water, it's a deadly tactic even on “heavy bait” venues you just need to have confidence that your hookbait is working for you and you've put it somewhere productive.
The match the hatch proper food bait cork balls can be stunning singles.
Could always try being a bit alternative as well, why not get an even split of a few baits and mix them up?
See what each one is like, see if you get more takes on certain hookbaits etc, I always used to find fishing them in situ better for comparison, as seasons differ as do sessions, fishing side by side makes things clearer and I'm also convinced lots of different tasting baits can stimulate carp to feed more enthusiastically
No reason why your singles approach won't work on a new water, it's a deadly tactic even on “heavy bait” venues you just need to have confidence that your hookbait is working for you and you've put it somewhere productive.
The match the hatch proper food bait cork balls can be stunning singles.
Could always try being a bit alternative as well, why not get an even split of a few baits and mix them up?
See what each one is like, see if you get more takes on certain hookbaits etc, I always used to find fishing them in situ better for comparison, as seasons differ as do sessions, fishing side by side makes things clearer and I'm also convinced lots of different tasting baits can stimulate carp to feed more enthusiastically
In reply to Post #1
Only thing I'll say about the pacific tuna is that once it was released all the ccmoore sponsored anglers seemed to go straight back to the odyssey xxx which to me says a lot. I've used both in the past and xxx is defo the better bait or the two.
I'd also choose numerous other baits above the xxx.
Only thing I'll say about the pacific tuna is that once it was released all the ccmoore sponsored anglers seemed to go straight back to the odyssey xxx which to me says a lot. I've used both in the past and xxx is defo the better bait or the two.
I'd also choose numerous other baits above the xxx.
In reply to Post #1
Depending on how well "pretty well" is, I'd go for DNA. You've had someone do the fieldwork for you. He might even still be baiting (?) and has probably established that bait. Maybe fish the B5 alongside and see which does best.
Depending on how well "pretty well" is, I'd go for DNA. You've had someone do the fieldwork for you. He might even still be baiting (?) and has probably established that bait. Maybe fish the B5 alongside and see which does best.
In reply to Post #1
Maybe see if you can get samples from the companies and have a closer look, taste etc.
I'm sure if you fish well with any of those baits you would catch.
Maybe see if you can get samples from the companies and have a closer look, taste etc.
I'm sure if you fish well with any of those baits you would catch.
In reply to Post #5
No reason why your singles approach won't work on a new water, it's a deadly tactic even on “heavy bait” venues you just need to have confidence that your hookbait is working for you and you've put it somewhere productive.
It really is.
I don't know what it is about singles, but on many sessions I've outfished people who are baiting. I like to think that I'm trying to actually catch a fish, rather than make them all obese. And by spending more time making sure I'm 100% on fish for as much time as possible, it's worked well for me.
I had a double take on singles once in a medium/low stocked venue, and a person I was talking too - simply could not wrap his head around the fact that I was totally confident in casting a single bait into a lake, and was even more amazed that I was catching fish!
My opinion, is that fish have evolved over millions of years to be able to root out a worm buried in 10 inches of silt, I'm generally of the opinion that fish will know about the presence of things like single hookbaits, from a long way away..
No reason why your singles approach won't work on a new water, it's a deadly tactic even on “heavy bait” venues you just need to have confidence that your hookbait is working for you and you've put it somewhere productive.
It really is.
I don't know what it is about singles, but on many sessions I've outfished people who are baiting. I like to think that I'm trying to actually catch a fish, rather than make them all obese. And by spending more time making sure I'm 100% on fish for as much time as possible, it's worked well for me.
I had a double take on singles once in a medium/low stocked venue, and a person I was talking too - simply could not wrap his head around the fact that I was totally confident in casting a single bait into a lake, and was even more amazed that I was catching fish!
My opinion, is that fish have evolved over millions of years to be able to root out a worm buried in 10 inches of silt, I'm generally of the opinion that fish will know about the presence of things like single hookbaits, from a long way away..
In reply to Post #4
One bite tactics would be more friendly on the wallet if using the optimum and it certainly makes sense to use a higher quality of bait if you don't need to use loads. It's super soluble and leaks it's attractors readily even in the depths of winter it will be working for you. You could buy a few kg of two of the baits mentioned and with the fishing being very visual the carp themselves should help you choose.
Yeah I've actually ordered a sample pack from Rollin - just want to see what it's scent profile is like. And yes - there's nothing stopping me from baiting a few spots with different baits, because I'll be using a boat and an aquascope - i'll be able to see which spot gets turned over first.
On the other hands, it does feel like we treat carp like restaurant critics sometimes.. I'd love to do a blind test where some of the bait is old fashioned Richworth tutti-fruttis, I bet the results would suprise :D
One bite tactics would be more friendly on the wallet if using the optimum and it certainly makes sense to use a higher quality of bait if you don't need to use loads. It's super soluble and leaks it's attractors readily even in the depths of winter it will be working for you. You could buy a few kg of two of the baits mentioned and with the fishing being very visual the carp themselves should help you choose.
Yeah I've actually ordered a sample pack from Rollin - just want to see what it's scent profile is like. And yes - there's nothing stopping me from baiting a few spots with different baits, because I'll be using a boat and an aquascope - i'll be able to see which spot gets turned over first.
On the other hands, it does feel like we treat carp like restaurant critics sometimes.. I'd love to do a blind test where some of the bait is old fashioned Richworth tutti-fruttis, I bet the results would suprise :D
In reply to Post #9
not quite a single approach, but i did so well last spring on casting 3 bait stringers with a high attract homemade popup.
in my opinion the stringer is such a forgotten gem.
not quite a single approach, but i did so well last spring on casting 3 bait stringers with a high attract homemade popup.
in my opinion the stringer is such a forgotten gem.
In reply to Post #11
The more I think about it, the more l like the idea of mixing different baits a little. I was planning on using a mixture of different sizes and shapes, (say 14mm/20mm + barrels) but who's to say that mixing some shellfish B5 and Rollin optimum wouldn't offer the best of both worlds.
In terms of my baiting approach, I won't be filling it in, handfuls of bait at a time - so quality matters more than quantity in every way.
The more I think about it, the more l like the idea of mixing different baits a little. I was planning on using a mixture of different sizes and shapes, (say 14mm/20mm + barrels) but who's to say that mixing some shellfish B5 and Rollin optimum wouldn't offer the best of both worlds.
In terms of my baiting approach, I won't be filling it in, handfuls of bait at a time - so quality matters more than quantity in every way.
In reply to Post #10
I too ordered that sample pack, last two weeks on the lake I've fished, just 6/8 hour days on a Saturday, there have been 3 bites. I've had them all.
Two on gpb hookbaits with a little bag of optimum
One on inception with a bottom bait.
There were 8 on there last week too. I'm not saying I'm a gifted angler and chances are I happened to be in the right place but it's a hell of a confidence booster. Especially as my old man and mate were within 10 yards of me on each side.
The downside is I have 6 optimum baits left.
Going to have a play with the others in sample pack this weekend.
I too ordered that sample pack, last two weeks on the lake I've fished, just 6/8 hour days on a Saturday, there have been 3 bites. I've had them all.
Two on gpb hookbaits with a little bag of optimum
One on inception with a bottom bait.
There were 8 on there last week too. I'm not saying I'm a gifted angler and chances are I happened to be in the right place but it's a hell of a confidence booster. Especially as my old man and mate were within 10 yards of me on each side.
The downside is I have 6 optimum baits left.
Going to have a play with the others in sample pack this weekend.